The aim of IEA SHC Task 59/EBC Annex 76 is the documentation of best practice examples, the development of a multidisciplinary planning process and the development of holistic reconstruction solutions for historic buildings. In addition to the lead of Subtask A (knowledge base), the Austrian participation will also incorporate and further develop results that have been achieved in national demonstration projects and have been tested in practice.

Short Description

The preservation of our historic building stock, which is equivalent to around a quarter of the building stock in Europe, can - from an economic point of view - only be achieved if future use is ensured. To this end, redevelopment solutions and technologies have to be found which allow to preserve the historical and architectural values while at the same time increasing comfort, reducing energy costs and minimizing environmental pollution.

The aim of the project is to identify good approaches and best practice examples and to promote innovative solutions compatible with the preservation of the character of historical buildings. For this purpose, innovative solutions are documented and further developed both with regard to the building envelope (especially the insulation method) and the building technology (ventilation and solar technology).

Realized examples have shown that a "factor 4" reduction (that is 75% reduction in energy consumption) and beyond is possible, and that this can be achieved in historical buildings, while preserving their cultural value, depending on the specific case.

As far as the interior insulation is concerned, it is in the public interest to generate sustainable and robust solutions for indoor insulation that prevent structural damage, in collaboration with international project partners. In the Austrian subproject, the suitability of different materials as a capillary-active insulating material, which is to be determined experimentally as easily as possible, is discussed.

In addition, Austria also provides experience and measurement data from national as well as European demonstration projects concerning active air overflow for residential and school buildings.

Within the scope of the Austrian participation, results and findings are expected, especially in Subtask A (subtask lead) and C. As part of the development of a "knowledge base", innovative solutions will be implemented, which have been applied in Austrian demonstration projects and have been tested in practice.

Special technical solutions for interior insulation as well as ventilation systems in historic buildings, high-quality window solutions for listed objects, high-insulating aerogel plaster as well as solar-thermal systems on historic buildings are examined internationally.

In the Austrian subproject, the focus is on the hygrothermal evaluation of internal insulation systems as well as on the development of minimally invasive ventilation systems.